The ABS has a range of data available on request from the Persons Not in the Labour Force Survey. This section lists the data items and populations which relate to the survey. More detailed breakdowns of some data items may also be available on request.

The population(s) for a particular data item refers to the person in the survey to whom the data item relates.

For more information about ABS data available on request, contact Labour Market Statistics on Canberra (02)6252 7206, or by facsimile on (02)6252 7102, or by email to <labour.statistics@abs.gov.au>.

Population 1:

Persons not in the labour force

Population 2:

Persons not in the labour force who wanted to work

Population 3:

Persons not in the labour force with marginal attachment to the labour force

Population 4:

Persons not in the labour force who wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were available to start work within four weeks

Population 5:

Persons not in the labour force who were discouraged job seekers

Population 6:

Persons not in the labour force who wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were not available to start work within four weeks

Population 7:

Persons not in the labour force because they were caring for children, who wanted to work but not actively looking for work

Population 8:

Persons not in the labour force who previously had a job

Population 9:

Persons not in the labour force without marginal attachment to the labour force

Population 10:

Persons not in the labour force whose last job was less than 20 years ago

Data items

Populations

1

State or territory of usual residence

All

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

Tasmania

Northern Territory

Australian Capital Territory

2

Area of usual residence

All

State capital city

Balance of state/territory

3

Region of usual residence

All

Standard labour force dissemination regions

4

Sex

All

Males

Females

5

Marital status

All

Married

Not married

6

Relationship in household

All

Family member

Husband, wife or partner

With dependants

Without dependants

Lone parent

With dependants

Without dependants

Dependent student

Non-dependent child

Other related individual

Non-family member

Lone person

Not living alone

Relationship not determined

7A

Country of birth and period of arrival

All

Born in Australia

Born overseas

Arrived before 1971

Arrived 1971-1980

Arrived 1981-1990

Arrived 1991-2000

Arrived 2001 to survey date

7B

Country of birth (1)

All

Born in Australia

Born overseas

Born in main English-speaking countries

Born in other than main English-speaking countries

7C

Country of birth (2)

All

Born in Australia

Born overseas

Oceania and Antarctica

North-West Europe

Southern and Eastern Europe

North Africa and the Middle East

South-East Asia

North-East Asia

Southern and Central Asia

Americas

Sub-Saharan Africa

8

Age group (years)

All

15-19

20-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70 and over

Note: Age collected in single years

9

Full-time study status (15-24 year olds)

All

Were full-time students

Were not full-time students

Did not know

10A

Persons not in the labour force summary variable

1, 8, 10

With marginal attachment to the labour force

Wanted to work and were actively looking for work

Were available to start work within four weeks

Were not available to start work within four weeks

Wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were available to start work within four weeks

Discouraged job seekers

Other

Without marginal attachment to the labour force

Wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were not available to start work within four weeks

Did not want to work

Permanently unable to work

10B

Marginal attachment summary variable

3

Wanted to work and were actively looking for work

Were available to start work within four weeks

Were not available to start work within four weeks

Wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were available to start work within four weeks

Discouraged job seekers

Other

11

Whether wanted to work

1, 8, 10

Wanted to work

Might want to work

Did not want to work

Did not know

12

Whether looked for work in the last 12 months

All

Had looked for work

Less than 5 weeks ago

5 weeks and less than 8 weeks ago

8 weeks and less than 13 weeks ago

13-52 weeks ago

13 weeks and less than 26 weeks ago

26 weeks and less than 39 weeks ago

39-52 weeks ago

Had not looked for work

13

Main activity when not in the labour force

All

Retired or voluntarily inactive

Home duties

Caring for children

Attending an educational institution

Own long-term health condition or disability

Own short-term illness or injury

Looking after ill or disabled person

Travel, holiday or leisure activity

Working in unpaid voluntary job

Other

14A

Time since last job

All

Had a job

Under 12 months

1 week and under 4 weeks

4 weeks and under 8 weeks

8 weeks and under 13 weeks

13 weeks and under 26 weeks

26 weeks and under 39 weeks

39 weeks and under 52 weeks

1 year and under 3 years

3 years and under 10 years

3 years and under 5 years

5 years and under 10 years

10 years or more

10 years and under 20 years

20 years or more

Never had a job

14B

Whether had a job in the last 20 years

All

Had a job

Last job less than 20 years ago

Last job 20 or more years ago

Never had a job

15

Reason for ceasing last job

All

Had a job

Lost a job

Retrenched made redundant employer went out of business, dismissed, no work was available

Job was temporary or seasonal

Own short-term illness or injury

Own business closed down for economic reasons

Left a job

Unsatisfactory work arrangements

Retired, did not work any longer

Own long-term health condition or disability

Returned to studies

Pregnancy or to have children

To get married

To look after family, house or someone else

To have holidays, moved house or spouse transferred

Own business closed down for other than economic reasons

Other

Never had a job

16

Occupation in last job

All

Last job less than 20 years ago

Managers

Professionals

Technicians and trades workers

Community and personal service workers

Clerical and administrative workers

Sales workers

Machinery operators and
drivers

Labourers

Last job 20 or more years ago

Never had a job

17A

Status in employment in last job (1)

All

Last job less than 20 years ago

Employer

Own account worker

Employee

Contributing family worker

Unpaid voluntary worker

Last job 20 or more years ago

Never had a job

17B

Status in employment in last job (2)

All

Last job less than 20 years ago

Employee

Own account worker/Employer

Other

Last job 20 or more years ago

Never had a job

18

Full-time or part-time status in last job

All

Last job less than 20 years ago

Full-time

Part-time

Varied/Did not know

Last job 20 or more years ago

Never had a job

19A

Intention to enter the labour force

All

Intended to enter

Might enter

Did not intend to enter

Did not know

Permanently unable to work

Not applicable (full-time student)

19B

Intention to enter the labour force in the next 12 months

All

Intended to enter

Might enter

Did not intend to enter

Did not know

Permanently unable to work

20

Full-time or part-time preference

All

Full-time

Part-time

Did not know

Not intending to work

21

Main reason for not actively looking for work

4

Wanted to work and were actively looking for work

Were available to start work within four weeks

Were not available to start work within four weeks

Wanted to work but were not actively looking for work and were available to start work within four weeks

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